Boiler feeder



April 16, 1929.

Filed May 8, 1925 O .Y W W W R o I T 1? Y/ 5 m AN /NN. wm

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Patented Apr. 16,- 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX PAUL MILLER, OF WABAN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO W. D. CASHIN (30., OF if BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

BOILER FEEDER.

Application filed May 8,

This invention relates to boiler feeders of the type used more especially in low pressure boilers. Such boilers usually are equipped with an automatic float controlled feeder arranged to admit water from the city main to the boiler whenever the level of the water in the boiler drops below a predetermined point. A certain amount of surging occurs in these boilers and frequently it is sufiicient to cause the float to open the water inlet valve slightly at each oscillation of the float, with the result that the boiler soon becomes flooded. It is one of the objects of this invention, therefore, to devise an automatic boiler feeder in which this objectionable action will be eliminated. The invention also aims to devise a boiler feeder which can be manufactured economically, will be extremely reliable, and in which repairs, when necessary, can readily be made.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended. claims.

Referring now to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical, cross sectional view of a boiler feeder embodying this invention; and

Fig. 2 is across section through one of the valves shown in Fig. 1.

The construction shown comprises a easing 2 having a float chamber 3 therein in which a float 4 is mounted. This casing is designed to be connected by pipes 5 and 6, re-- spectively, to points above and below the normal level of the water in the boiler, so that the water will rise and fall in the chamber 3 with the changes in level in the boiler. An opening large enough to admit the float is formed in the casing at the front thereof and this opening normally is closed by an upright plate 7 which is bolted to the casmg. The float 4 is mounted on anarm 8 which is pivoted at 9 to a bracket 10, preferably formed integral with the plate 7' and projecting inwardly therefrom.

Secured to the casing 2 is a valve casing 12 having an externally threaded boss 13 which is screwed into a hole in the plate or closure 7. A water supply pipe 14 is threaded into the casing 12 and a dlscharge pipe 15 leads from this casing to the boiler. The casing has a valve chamber 16 therein with an inlet 1925. Serial No. 28,854.

' port 17 leading laterally into it and an out-- let port 18 leading from one end thereof. A valve 19 1s mounted to reciprocate in the chamber and includes a valve body which is grooved, as shown at 20. A valve facing 21 adapted to engage the valve seat 22 is held in place by a guide 23 threaded into the body 01. valve 19. A light spring 24 bears on the valve and urges it toward its seat, this spring beingbacked up by a threaded plug 25 which closes one end of the valve chamber.

The valve has a loose sliding fit in its chamher so that when it is seated the water entermg the pipe 14 will gradually be forced into the chamber 16 behind the valve until a pressure is built up in this chamber substantially equal to the pressure in the supply pipe 14. The spr1ng2 1 is made so light that it is not effective alone to hold the valve 19 closed, but it IS aided by the water pressure behind the valve, and together they normally hold the valve on its seat.

Leading from the chamber 16 is an aux- 1l1ary outlet opening or port'26 which connects this chamber with the float chamber 3. Normally this port or opening is closed by an auxlliary valve 27 which is held on its .seat by a spring 28 backed up by a threaded plug 29, the valve being located in a horizontal housing which is integral with the valve casing. This valve is slotted to receive one end of a bell crank lever 30, the other end of which carries a pin 31 that projects into a curved slot 32 formed in an extension or projection from the float arm 8.

It will now be evident that when this apparatus is properly connected to a boiler, and the water level in the boiler drops to the water feed level, the float 4 will drop into substantially the position shown, and an further drop will cause it to operate throng the bell crank lever 30 to unseat the valve 27. This relieves the water pressure in the valve chamber 16, and the pressure of the water acting on the groove 20 and the lower surfaces of the valve 19 will force it upwardly into its open position, thus allowing water to flow freely through the inlet port 17, outlet port 18 and pipe 15 into the boiler. As the float 1 is lifted by the consequent rise of water in the boiler and float chamber, it will allow the spring 28 to'seat the auxiliary valve 27 again, whereupon water will gradually force its way behind the valve. 19 until a pressure is built up which, combined with nection is provided by the pin 31 working in the slot 32, the float can have a Very wide .range of oscillation without opening the valve 27. Consequently, the movements'of the float produced by surging in the boiler do not result in flooding the boiler, as in prior constructions of low pressure boiler feeders. It will be observed that the feeder shown is so designed that it canbe manufactured economically, the parts are sturdy and substantial in construction, are not liable to get out of order, and when repairs are necessary such, for example as renewing the facings of the valves 19 or 27 they can readily be removed to permit such renewals. In fact, the float,

the lever which supports it, the valve casings and the arts mounted therein, can all be re- .moved rom the casing 2 with-the plate 7.

This fact is also of importance in assembling the apparatus.

While I have herein shown and described the best embodiment of m invention that I have so far devised, it will be evident that the invention may be embodied in other forms .without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. 4

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claimjas new is:,

1. A b'oiler feeder comprising a casing having a float chamber therein, a float in said chamber, a valve casing having water inlet and outlet ports therein, a valve controlling the flow of water through said outlet port, a light spring acting on said valveto urge it toward its closed position and cooperating with the fluid pressure in said valve casing.

behind the valve to hold the valve normally in its closed position, said spring being ineffective to hold said valve closed when said pressure is relieved, an auxiliary outlet port leading from the chamber in said valve casing behind said valve, an auxiliary valve normally closing said auxiliary port, a spring tending to hold said auxiliary valve closed and a connection from said float to said auxiliary valveproviding lost motion therebetween whereby the float is operative to open' the auxiliary valve when the water in said float chamber drops below substantially apredetermined level.

2. A boiler feeder comprising a'casing having a float chamber therein, a float in said" chamber, a valve casing removably secured to one side of said float chamber casing, said valve casing having a valve chamber therein and having a water inlet port opening laterally into said valve chamber and an outlet slidably mounted in said valve chamber for movement across said inlet port into and out of position to closesaid outlet port, a light spring in said valve'chamber for urging said valve toward its seat but arranged to be overcome by the pressure of the water on said valve when the fluid pressure behind the valve is relieved, an auxiliary outlet in said valve casing leading from said valve. chamber behind the valve into the float chamber, an auxiliary valve normally closing said outlet, a spring tending to hold said auxiliary valve closed and a connection from said auxiliary valve to said float providing lost motion therebetween whereby the to open the valve when the Water in said float chamber drops substantially to a predetermined level.

3. A boiler feeder comprising a casing having a float chamber therein, a pivoted float mounted in said chamber, a valve casing secured to the first casing and having a water inlet port opening laterally thereinto and a water outlet port opening from one end thereof, a valve slidably mounted in said valve chamber for movement across said inlet port into and out of position to close said outlet port, a light spring bearing on said valve and tending to hold it closed, an auxiliary outlet port leading from said valve chamber behind the valve into said float chamber, a spring pressed valve normally closing said auxiliary port, a lever for operating said auxiliary valve, and a lost. motion connection between said lever'and said float.

4. In a boiler feeder, the combination of a casing havin a float chamber therein, a float in said cham i, said casing having an opening in one side thereof, a closure for said float is operative opening, a valve casing carried by said 010- sure, sald valve caslng having water inlet and 1 outlet ports, a main valve controlling the flow of water through said outlet port and normally held in its closed position through the aid of fluid pressure in the valve casing behind said valve, said valve casing having a port leading frombehind said valve to saidfloat chamber, an auxiliary valve for closing said port, a spring tending to hold said auxiliary valve in its closed position, and connections from said float to said auxiliary'valve providing lo'st motion therebetween whereby the float is operative to open said auxiliary valve when the water in said float chamber drops below substantiallya predetermined level.

5. In a boiler feeder, the combination of a casing having a float chamber therein, a'. float in said chamber, said casing'having an opening in one side thereof, a plate for closing, said opening, a valve casing carried by said plate and mounted immediately beside said opening, said valve casing havinga water inlet port leading later; ally thereinto and an outlet port, a main valve controlling the flow of water through said outlet port and movable across said inlet port, said valve normally being held in its closed position through the aid of fluid pressure in the valve casing immediately behind said valve, said valve casing having a passage leading from behind said valve into the float chamber, an auxiliary valve normally closing said passage, a spring tending to hold said auxiliary valve in its closed position, a lever supporting said float and fulcrumed on said plate, and a device having a lost motion connection with said lever but arranged to be operated by the lever to open said auxiliary valve when the water in the float chamber drops below substantially a predetermined level, said float, lever and valve casing being removable from said casing with said plate.

6. In a boiler feeder, the combination of a casing having a float chamber therein, a float in said chamber, said casing having an opening in one side thereof, an approximately upright plate for closing said opening, a valve casing carried by said plate and mounted immediately beside said opening, said valve casing having a water inlet port leading laterally thereinto and an outlet port, a main valve controlling the flow of water through said outlet port and movable across said inlet port, said valve normally being held in its closed position through the aid of fluid pressure in the valve casing immediately behind said valve, said valve casing having a passage leading from behind said valve into the float chamber, an auxiliary valve normally closing said passage, a housing for said auxiliary valve extending substantially horizontally from said valve casing, a spring tending to hold said auxiliary valve in its closed position, a lever supporting said float and fulcrumed on said plate, and a device having a lost motion connection with said lever but arranged to be operated by the lever to open said auxiliary valve when the water in the float chamber drops below substantially a predetermined level, said float, lever, and valve casing being removable from said casing with said plate.

MAX PAUL MILLER. 

